a little light...

Last night I went to city with some friends from church and from YWAM to see Sydney all lit up. "Vivid Sydney," Sydney's light festival was pretty incredible. It's not every day you see this...

Sydney opera house by day. If you think this is cool, wait until you see...

THIS! Psychedelic, all lit up, opera house!

pretty amazing, huh?

They also lit up other buildings. This one was the best.

I thought you'd enjoy those... just a little glimpse into what I'm up to this weekend. :)

Back into the blogging world...

Dear family and friends,

I haven’t written in ages, so here it goes. This is actually something I wrote and e-mailed out lat week. Yep, I'm cheating. Well, I’m 3 weeks into the SOSM (School of Strategic Missions) now, and with the change of season, the physical season has changed as well. It’s well into fall, approaching winter. It’s strange to think about it being summer time back home. The winter here is pretty mild (lows in the low 40’s), but there is no insulation in the buildings and no heating! Brrr!!! Thankfully, I have a small heater for my room that is keeping me cozy!

Well, I am loving the SOSM so far. It’s amazing training for missions. So far we've talked about how the primary transforming agent on the planet is meant to be the church, and everything must happen in partnership with the church. We've talked about contextualization and the need we have to boil down our message to its core. What is the gospel and what is added tradition from the West? How can we partner with the culture and traditions of other contexts and bring our message in a way that will have more power to the hearer? Last week we talked a lot about the globalized world we live in. Everything is so much more connected, and a lot is possible. Missions today looks different than it did even 20 years ago. So, all very interesting stuff. I'm loving diving more into it.

This week in particular is on the spheres or domains of society- government, economics, science, communication, family, church, arts. and education. We’ve talked about how we need to disciple nations in a way that touches all of these spheres, not just the sphere of the church. We’ve done very well in the church sphere, but God gives us the model in the Old Testament in discipling Israel, His people, in all the spheres. We need to have a holistic approach in thinking about discipling nations in the kingdom of God. It's been a good and insightful week so far.

That’s a very small glimpse into some of the concepts I’m wrestling with in a team of 7 “students” and 6 staff. It’s challenging, but very important, and I think God is really building key principles that if used with wisdom could have powerful implications in the nations.

All for now.

Love, Christy

Reflecting and Looking Forward

Good day family and friends!

I hope you are all doing well and having a rich and filled Easter season. I'm a bit envious of your Spring time... so reminiscent of the new life we have in Christ after winter. Life in exchange for death, leaves and fruit for barrenness. Incredible.

As I approach Easter, I am thankful to have time to slow down and ponder- to remind myself who this Jesus is and why I have chosen to spend my life on Him and bringing His kingdom to those who haven't heard. It's good to slow down. I'm enjoying it.

I've been serving on the base in the hospitality (housekeeping) department for the past three weeks. I've also been working with a small team on developing an eight week series on the person of Jesus, which we will be doing at a local Christian school this coming May. Our goal is to challenge youth to rise up and live in their full potential, looking to see where God is at work all around them and how they can channel their passion to join Him and make a difference in their school and spheres of influence.

In May, things will pick up again more for me as I step into a new season. If you didn't receive or get to read my last newsletter, take a look below to see what's coming up for me:

God has led me into a season of equipping and job training for this task of making disciples in the nations. I will be beginning a three month course starting May 9, called School of Strategic Missions (SOSM). YWAM Wollongong offers this course to its staff to ensure that we are well trained to engage the most unreached, “closed” countries with the gospel in a way that is effective and beneficial.

In the SOSM, we will examine the different paradigms of the world. Our goal is to understand the belief systems of other worldviews so that we can “talk their language” and explain the gospel in a way that is meaningful to them. This is so important in missions, particularly in a non-western context.

It’s great to go out with passion and zeal, but if we don’t add knowledge to our zeal, our efforts only run so deep. Proverbs 4:7 tells us, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”

The SOSM will train me to understand the paradigms through which people are viewing God and the world so that I can then continue to train others to share the gospel with understanding.

I’m so excited about this opportunity. I truly believe that the course will equip me with necessary and invaluable tools as a leader. After doing a course like this, I will be ten times more useful both on the field and in sending teams to the field

The SOSM puts a high value on recognizing what God is already doing in the most unreached places on the earth and bridging the gap between the work happening through the church on the field and the church in the developed world. If we are able to work in unity with the church that already exists, we will come in a way that supports the work of the church, rather than deters it. This is something God has been growing in my heart and speaking to me about for the past 12 months!

After the three months of training, I will have the opportunity to put the things I learn into practice on a three month outreach. During the outreach, I will be able to engage these different worldviews first hand, while partnering with and learning under the local church on the field. Since I will be coming home for a visit September the 5th, I will be deferring the outreach until I come back to Australia.

So, in light of all of this, I am asking for your prayers. I have seen huge breakthrough in my life these past 5 months, and I know this is only possible because I am supported by such a strong network of people who pray.

In addition to your prayers, I am also in need of finances.. Because I will remain as YWAM Wollongong staff, my staff fees are already included in the training cost, but I will need an additional $1,000 for the lecture portion of the training and $1,500 for the outreach, plus my air ticket cost. I am stepping out in faith, because I believe God called me to do this training. I am not asking you to give, only to pray and ask God about whether He would have you give. I am thankful to have you be a part of this with me. If you are interested in partnering with me in this through giving, you can e-mail me at Christy2225@gmail.com.

I'm so excited to share this with each of you and to have you on the journey. I really feel God doing some exciting things, opening up new doors and opportunities. I love sharing all of it and partnering with yall. It's not just about me going, but about the partnership relationship of doing it together as one body.

Thanks yall, and have a blessed Easter! love, Christy

"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." Colossians 1:19

The past 12 weeks...

Wow, it’s been ages since I’ve last blogged! That just goes to show how crazy busy things have been here. Now the intensity level has gone from high to low with the DTS outreach team’s recent departure to northern Africa this past Friday night. I miss them already! This has been an incredible journey with tons of up's and down's along the way, but all in all definitely well worth every bit of it.

The other day, we had a time of reviewing with the students the things they had learned over the six months. We have had eleven weeks of teaching with international speakers. Here’s just a small glimpse into the journey of the past twelve weeks:

Week 1: God built a foundation in the students’ hearts of hearing His voice. Upon coming here, almost all of them didn’t really believe God is wanting to speak to them personally. Hearing God’s voice has been radically transforming in each of their lives. They also learned in this week that we can actually change history through intercessory prayer.

Week 2: The students learned what it means to study the Bible inductively (what is the Bible saying to us) rather than deductively (twisting the Bible to fit our own assumptions).

Week 3: The students opened up themselves to experience the Person of the Holy Spirit as their best friend and the great importance of being filled to pour out again.

Week 4: The students studied God’s character and nature, setting the foundation that God is big enough and God is good enough. He is absolutely worthy and is the most valuable Person in the universe.

Week 5: The students learned what a lifestyle of worship means. All of our actions ascribe worth to something. We were born for intimacy with God, and therefore, Jesus will satisfy every need for intimacy.

Week 6: We spent the week laying a Biblical basis and foundation for missions and learned that God is definitely interested in the peoples all over the planet and doing some incredible things in this world for His glory.

Week 7: The students learned about our response to the mercy of God- having mercy on others, particularly the poor and the needy. We learned that compassion leads to an act of mercy. We learned no to be overwhelmed by the need all around us, rather to start with the one.

Week 8: The students learned about relationships, and particularly using God’s wisdom in the area of relationships.

Week 9: The students learned about the Father-heart of God. We learned that we are all “fathered” by our parents in what the character of God is like, what we are like, etc. Those things are meant to be an accurate portrayal, but sometimes they are distorted. God wants to “re-Father” us in the things that have been broken and show us the truth.

Week 10: The students learned that everyone has a worldview, and our worldview directly impacts the choices we make. The worldview of most developed nations is strongly based in a Biblical worldview. Worldview directly impact our standard of living in our nations.

Week 11: The students learned about spiritual warfare. We are constantly in a spiritual war and have an enemy with strategies and tactics. We must put on the full armor of God and stand against our enemy. God has fully equipped us with everything we need for the battle.

the students and staff for the January 2011 DTS

Whew! To think that is just an overview is wild! It has been a challenging, deep, beautiful past 12 weeks. I have loved being on the journey with these students as they have abandoned themselves in surrender to the work that God has wanted to do in their hearts. I’ve seen some beautiful healing and transformation. It’s crazy to think about how much has happened in only this time. Now I truly see that discipleship is so important.

These students have been filled up with God and are ready to pour out in northern Africa. Please pray that they would remember all that God has done in their lives and not turn back. Pray for strength. They will be working with the locals there and doing things like orphan care in a local school, helping with a health clinic, and prison ministry. I absolutely cannot wait to hear their stories. I know He will use this group in amazing ways for His glory and the sake of the gospel of Jesus!

Breakthroughs

It’s been an incredible week on the DTS. God is doing so much powerful stuff in these students’ lives. In staffing this school, God is really showing me the power of prayer for Him to breakthrough in their lives. We, as staff, have been really burdened and really fighting for the students in prayer, and as a result we have seen incredible breakthrough this week. Before the school started, Bruce Skinner, our base leader, taught that the Holy Spirit is the discipler. I’ve seen that this week. The Holy Spirit has brought incredible transformation, by His power and His power alone. It is nothing I have done. God has just allowed me the privilege to walk alongside the journey with the students and invited me to become a part of the work HE is already doing (and I’m loving it).

This week we had a speaker come from South Africa. He taught on the Holy Spirit, including how He moves and gifts of the Holy Spirit. It was a powerful time of God exposing the fear in my own heart and asking me how much I really trusted Him. God brought up all the barriers in my heart to experiencing more of Him: fear, pride, control, past experiences (both good and bad). The most amazing part of the week was getting to walk with the students as they said “God I give you the last ounce of control I am clinging to. I want your presence and you to be real in my life more than I want these fears of mine.”

I love what the speaker brought- in that He didn’t exalt an experience of God’s presence. He made it clear that an experience and encounter with the Person of the Holy Spirit is to lead you into deeper intimacy with the Father in your daily life and faith journey. I really loved that and feel like that’s what happened for the students this week as well. This week, I saw God breakthrough strongholds built up for years, give emotions back to people who had put up walls, restore broken relationships, and more.

One thing God reminded me in the teaching is faith in the provision of God. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 says,

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, ‘He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor, his righteousness endures forever. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.’ You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

God has been speaking to me quite a bit about living a lifestyle of faith and trust in His provision. He has blessed me more than I could ask or imagine in both financial support and incredible relationships through those of you partnering with me. But, one thing He continues to remind me is that He has not blessed me in order that I hoard and have more. He blesses me so that those blessings will flow through me. God challenged me this week... Do I believe that everything is really His? Will He find me faithful with the finances He has stewarded me with?

So, to apply that... We had a night of giving. I’ve never done anything like that before. The whole DTS and others on base gathered together to give to one another. Before, we each asked God what He wanted us to give and to who and why. The point of it is to remind ourselves that everything we have is God’s and to enjoy the joys of giving to one another. It was amazing. I felt God calling me to give monthly to one of my friends here who has really been trusting God for finances. She has been so faithful to communicate with friends and her church back home. I feel like God is wanting me to continually let the blessing He has given me flow through me, and to trust Him with a greater faith. The rest of the giving night was beautiful- people gave away guitars, cameras, meaningful jewelry, money, acts of service, and more. I was challenged in thinking “I can’t afford this...” to change that to “I can’t afford not to listen to God.”

I feel like there is so much more I could share about this week, but I’ll leave it at that. Please continue to pray. I’m seeing God really move in response to your prayers. It’s amazing.

For the DTS, pray:

-they would continue to become a family, sacrificing for one another and holding one another up

-they would seek to choose God in times they feel like giving up

-for hearing God clearly for the staff as we are praying into outreach- who should go, details ,etc.

For me, pray:

-I would continue to invest everything I am in this school, while hearing from God and trusting Him in what He has for me in the next season of staffing here

-That I would simply hear God and obey wholeheartedly every day

-That I would seek and be filled with more of His Word

Thank you all so much for being such a huge part of my life. I am truly blessed.

love, Christy

Answered Prayer

"If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself."

2 Timothy 2:13

For all those of you who have been praying faithfully, let me take you on a journey with me. Before I came to Australia, I was reading in John one day, and God began- out of nowhere- to speak about the importance of joining a local church here in Australia. He spoke some things clearly to my spirit about having eyes open for a church with people grounded in truth- A faith family committed to teaching the sovereignty of a loving God and upholding the authority of the Scriptures. I knew that I didn’t need a church that would give me a “feel good” experience, just one that taught the Bible and sought to live out what it said with all their heart.

I held onto this thing God had spoken and asked you to pray for God’s leading and direction. Before we moved, when we still lived in Shellharbour, I started to feel discouraged because I didn’t see those things realized in the way I felt like God had spoken. “God, did you really mean I would find a church like that? Maybe, I am being too picky and idealistic... No, you said I would know when I saw these things fulfilled. But when God? I don’t see it happening.”

After the move to Port Kembla, I felt God calling me to run after the things He had spoken, and I randomly found a Baptist church online called Wollongong Baptist Church. I went and was immediately overwhelmed with the fingerprints of God on that place. It’s probably the most diverse church I’ve been to, in culture and in age. There are over 25 different nations represented there, and they have worship services in Chinese, Greek, and Burmese. The church has such a missions heart and focus on reaching the nations!

“God, could this be you? I see you at work here.” There is nothing glamourous about the worship, but they teach truth and are faithful to the authority of the Scriptures. “God, I am seeing the things you spoke that day about. I am watching to see what you are doing...”

That first Sunday I visited, I sat next to an 87 year old woman. She told me she came to know the Lord when she was in her thirties and has walked with him since. She and her husband started a church in their home, inviting people off the streets of Wollongong. She wants to share a meal with me and hear more about what God is doing in the nations through YWAM!

The next Sunday, I met a family from El Salvador! I spoke Spanish with this couple a little older than my parents’ age. They were so refreshed (and I was just plain giddy!) to speak with someone in their native tongue. They have a daughter who is my age. Later that night, I went to another service, and she introduced me to a lot of her friends who are students at the university in Wollongong.

I met another couple who have had a ministry to university students for years. They have opened their home to university students for months and years at a time and have had over 200 university students in their home over the years from tons of different nations! They have even gotten the opportunity to travel to some of their home nations with them because of this ministry. God is working in this church. His heart for the nations is evident in this place...

Today was my third Sunday to visit, and God solidified the stirring up in my heart about being a part of this faith family. I went to lunch at the pastor and his wife’s house after the service. They have three kids- ages 8, 5, and 2. I felt like I was back in Birmingham with my church family... right at home in the kitchen as I helped prepare lunch over good conversation and was taken into the 5 year old girl’s room, as she showed me her treasures! At this point, I am thinking... “God your grace is more than I imagined.” I enjoyed an amazing meal of breaded chicken, potatoes, and caesar salad... finished with an amazing desert of lemon pie and ice cream AND.... a latte made using an espresso machine! Heaven? Maybe. Haha.

I had such a good conversation with Rod and Christine about the church’s history of mission and God’s continual drawing such an international body together. We talked about all kinds of things. I spoke with them about how encouraged I was by today’s message on Ephesians 2... it was such truth proclaimed, glorifying God to the max. We talked about how we are saved only by grace, and nothing we done on our own. We talked about the strength knowing Christ provides in all circumstances, even in suffering, knowing that He is sovereign and in control and His character is good. So refreshing. This church is totally committed to the truth of God’s Word. God completely confirmed that in my spirit through my conversation with them in their home! Praise His glorious Name!

I’m humbled and thankful. Even in my doubting, God still proved Himself faithful to me. He spoke, and He answered the cry He put in my heart more than I could have pictured or imagined! Even through I doubted and questioned whether it would come to pass, He continued to work on my behalf.

"If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself." (2 Tim. 2:13).

Even when I was faithless, He remained faithful. What a great God we serve! Thank you all of you who have continued to pray about this. I believe I am seeing the answer to prayer because you prayed! What a tangible example of you truly being on the journey with me!

The beginning of a journey... DTS starts!

It’s been a while since my last update. You might expect me to say that things slowed down after the big move and Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Nope, just as crazy- just in a different way!

January 4, we began our second week of staff training where we continued to get ready for the January DTS. We continued getting closer as a team and doing all the little things we needed to in order to welcome them to their new home. Our base leader, Bruce, spent some time as well equipping us with truths about New Testament discipleship. His talks freed me up a lot with the reminder that the Holy Spirit disciples those seeking Him, and my job is simply to point them to Him.

Last Saturday and Sunday, we welcomed 8 students from 6 different nations to the YWAM Wollongong family for the next 6 months. We have 8 amazing students, hungry to know God more and dive into this crazy adventure from the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Malaysia, and Australia. I’m so excited they are finally here and I know God has really incredible and specific purposes in store for this group of students.

If you have heard me talk about DTS, but still are unsure of what it is we do here... check out YWAM Wollongong’s website... http://www.ywamwollongong.org. Here’s a little bit about DTS taken from the website:

“Discipleship Training Schools (DTS) aim to prepare messengers of the gospel, helping students to know God in depth. The goal is to form Christian character and establish Biblical relationships while developing a daily walk with God. The intensive Christian training course begins with an 11 or 12 week classroom phase followed by a typically 12 week outreach.”

So... we have a different international speaker every week teaching on topics like how to hear God’s voice, how to study the Bible, the Fatherheart of God, spiritual warfare, Biblical relationships, a Biblical worldview, prayer and intercession, mercy and justice, etc. It’s an amazing time of God refining the students’ hearts, burning their hearts with the things that His heart burns for and then sending them out to make disciples of all nations.

Before every group of students arrives, we spend time praying for them individually and for the school as a whole. When praying before the school, God led us to Jeremiah 17:5-8 as a theme verse for the next 6 months for this group.

This is what the LORD says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, 
 who draws strength from mere flesh 
 and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 
That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; 
 they will not see prosperity when it comes. 
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, 
 in a salt land where no one lives.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, 
 whose confidence is in him.

They will be like a tree planted by the water 
 that sends out its roots by the stream. 
It does not fear when heat comes; 
 its leaves are always green. 
It has no worries in a year of drought 
 and never fails to bear fruit.”

I’m excited to see what God does in this school. Already I feel challenged to really depend completely upon God for strength and wisdom. He is responsible for growth and everything that happens. I am just a vessel and a tool in His hands. I really want to remain humble and teachable during this time and embrace everything He has for me to learn in this season. I also want to step out and take risks and not shrink back because of fear.

We’ve just about finished our first week, which was basically an orientation week. We’ve talked about YWAM’s history and YWAM Wollongong’s history, along with some of our values and vision. Bruce has been sharing with us some teaching on discipleship, and we are spending a bit of time this week sharing the stories of each of our lives with each other. It’s been great so far. Next week, we are jumping in fully and will be learning about hearing God’s voice.

Thanks again for all of your prayers and for being on this incredible journey. I can’t wait to share more of what God says and does!